Sash-fastener.



PATENTED JAN. l, 1907.

J.- L.' GRETHER.

SASH FASTENER. u PPLIOATIDN FILED onT. io. 190s.

' www mms UNrrED sTA'rEs PATENT OFFICE.

SASH-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1907.

Application led October 10,1905. Serial No. 282.1 92.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN L.-GRETHER, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Sash-Fasteners, of which the following is aspecification containing a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to a sash-fastener; and the object of my inventionis to construct a simple, inexpensive, and practically automaticsash-fastener which will very effectively lock the sash together andwhich cannot be opened from the outside of the window by inserting anarrow instrument, such as a knife-blade, between the meetingrails ofthesash to manipulate the lockingarm.

A further objectof my invention is to provide a sash-fastener with aspring-actuated locking-arm which may be moved into an unlocked positionwhen it is desired to raise or lower the window-sash, which locking-armwill be automatically thrown into a locked position when the sash areclosed.

To the above purposes my invention consists in certain novel features ofconstruction, which will be hereinafter more clearly set forth, pointedout in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved sash-fastener in positionupon the meetingrails of a pair of sashes. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectiontaken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of theplate that is seated upon the lower rail of the upper sash and withwhich the locking-arm engages.l Fig. 4 is a perspective view of thebase-plate of my improved sash-fastener. Fi 5 is a perspective view of alatch-plate iat operates to hold the locking-arm against movement in onedirection. Fig. 6 is a plan view looking at the under side of the lockin-arm. Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken ongitudinally through thecenter of the locking-arm. Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the lookin -armlooking in the direction indicated by t e arrow 8, Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is atransverse section taken on the line 9 9 of Fi 1. Fig.,10 is a detailsection taken on the ne 10 10 of Fig. 1.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, 1 indicates thebase-plate, which is preferably secured by screws 2 to the top surfaceof the upper rail of the lowerl sash. Formed in the approximate centerof this plate is an aperture 3, and a portion of the plate t0 the leftof this aperture is cut away, as indicated by 4, and a shoulder 5 isformed on the side of this cut-away portion 4 immediately behind theaperture 8, which shoulder is arranged at an angle of approximatelyforty-five degrees relative a transverse line passing through the centerof the aperture. Immediately in front ofthe aperture and in the topsurface of the plate 1 is formed a series of notches 6, and formedthrough the plate at a point between these notches and the apertures 3is a recess 8, and between said recess and the rear side of the plate islocated a lug 9.

10 indicates a post the lower end of which is reduced in diameter andwhich passes through the aperture 3 and receives a nut 11 on the undersidev of the plate 1. The upper end of this post 10 is provided with ahead 12.

The locking-arm of my improved sash-fastener comprises a cylindricalspring-housing 13, having an open lower end and provided in its top withan aperture 14, through which the post 10 passes. Formed integral withone side of this housing is an arm 15, in the under side of which isformed an inclined groove 16, that leads outwardly and downwardly fromthe interior of the housing 13. Formed in the under side of one of thewebs to one side of this groove 16 is a notch 17, the lowerface of whichinclines upwardly from the inside of said web to the outside. The outerend of this arm 15 is provided on its left-hand side with anoutwardly-projecting shoulder 18, and the side and end of the arm 15beyond this shoulder are beveled or inclined, as indicated by 19. Formedintegral with the side of the housing 13, opposite from the arm 15,

is a forwardly-projecting lug 20, and projecting forwardly from this lugis a shortinclined plate 21, the outer edge of which is provided with anintegral upwardly-projecting lip 22, the top of which is formedperfectly horizontal, as indicated by 23, and the front edge of which isbeveled or inclined, as indicated by 24. One side of the lug 20 isprovided with a straight vertical face 25, which isadapted to engagebehind the shoulder 5 when the locking-arm is thrown into an unlockedposition.

The latch-plate of my improved sash-fastener comprises a circularplate26, which is of such a size as that it snugly fits in the lower portionof the spring-housing 14, and it being provided with acentrally-arranged aperture IOO IIO

27, through which the post passes. A curved slot 27 a is formed in theplate to one side of the aperture 27. An arm 28 is formed integral withthe plate 26 and extends outwardly beneath the arm 15, and formedintegral with the outer end of the arm 28 is an upwardly-projecting lug29, that engages the side of the arm immediatelyin front of the shoulder18. The arm 28 is provided with an upwardly-projecting lug 30, whichnormally occupies the notch 17 in the under side of the arm 15, and thetop side of said lug is inclined to correspond with the inclination ofsaid notch 17. Formed integral with the righthand edge of the arm 28 isa downwardly-projecting tooth 31, which is adapted to engage in thenotches 6.

32 designates a coil-spring which is wound upon the post 10 and itslower end being bent downwardly and passing through the slot 27d andalso through the aperture 7 in the base-plate 1. The opposite end ofthis coilspring extends outwardly from the post 10,

as indicated by 33, and said end occupies the inclined groove 16 in theunder side of the arm 15. The normal tendency of this spring is toretain the locking-arm in a locked position and to swing the outer endof the arm 15 upwardly, owing to the pressure of the extended portion ofsaid spring 33 against the under side of the arm 15. The locking memberthat is secured to the lower rail of the upper sash comprises a plate34, that is secured to the sash-rail by screws or in any suitablemanner, and formed in the front edge of this base-plate 34 is a notch35, that is immediately in front of the cut-away portion 4 in thebase-plate 1. Formed integral with the edge of the plate 34 to the leftof the notch 35 is an upwardly-projecting plate 36, that is providedwith an integral arm 37 at its upper end, whichprojects toward the rightand which is provided with an inclined top edge 38. Formed integral withthe front edge of the plate 34, at the right hand thereof, is anupwardly-projecting plate 39, and extending to the left therefrom is anl integral arm 40, having an inclined lower edge 41. Y

When my improved sash-fastener is in a locked position, the outer end ofthe plate 21 is engaged beneath the arm 40 against the plate 39, and thelip 22 bears against the rear side of said plate 40. The springmaintains the locking-arm in this position and also causes the rear endof the arm 15 to swing upwardly to its limit of movement. Should a' thininstrument, such as a knife-blade, be inserted between'the meeting-railsof the sash in an attempt to engage the late 21 and to bear thereupon toswing the ockingarm, the reverse movement of the arm 15 will cause theinclined face ofthe notch 17 to bear upon the inclined top surface ofthe lug 30, and as a result the tooth 31 will be forced downwardly intoone of the notches 6, and thus the locking-arm will be prevented fromfurther movement, for the reason that the lug 30 is of sufficient heightto prevent the arm 15 from riding thereover. Thus the latchplateprevents the locking-arm from being manipulated from the exteror of thewin dow. en a person on the inside of the win dow desires to unlock thesash-fasten er, the thumb is placed upon the inclined surface 19 on theouter under side of the arm 15 and also against the lug 29, and aspressure is applied to the locking-arm and latch-plate by the thumb saidparts move together, and the natural upward pressure against theinclined face' 19 will cause the tooth 31 to ride over the notches 6,and as a result the lockingarm and latch-plate are swung around in to aposition shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, or until the shoulder 25passes over and behind the shoulder 5. The upward pressure on the rearend of the arm 15 tends to throw the forward end of the locking-'armdownwardly. Consequently when the shoulder 25 passes the shoulder 5 itwill drop behind said shoulder 5, and thus the locking-arm will bemaintained in an unlocked position against the pressure of the spring32. The tooth 31 at this time occupies the recess 8, and the forward endof the plate 21 occupies the notch35 in the plate 34 and is positionedimmediately beneath the arm 37.

When the e, sash-fastener is unlocked and the upper sash is lowered orthe lower sash is elevated, the projecting plate 21 does not interferewith the movement of the sash relative to each other-that is to say, itdoes not project far enough beyond the edge of the lower sashto comeinto contact with the top rail of the upper sash. Furthermore, when thesash-fastener is unlocked, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and theupper sash is lowered or the lower sash is elevated the inclined face 24on the lip 22, carried by the plate 21, will bear against the under sideof the arm 37, which is slightly beveled on its under side, and willforce the locking-arm inwardly, whereby it is permitted to pass the arm37- It should be noted that during this o eration-that is, the inwardmovement of t e locking-arm incident to its striking the arm 37-the arm15 is permitted to move outwardly, for the reason that the lug 31 ispermitted to move freely a sufhcient and limited distance in the recess8. After the lockingarm has passed the arm 37 as above described, itreturns to its normal unlocked position, as indicated in dotted lines,Fig. 1, and heretofore described.

When the sash are closed, so as to 'bring the meeting-rails to ether,the projecting end of the plate 21 wil strike against the inclined topsurface 38 of the arm 37 and as a result the shoulder 25 is disenga edfrom the shoulder 5, and the spring 32 then immediately ITO IZS

act to return the locking arm and latchplate into locked positions, andthe plate 21 will be deflected downwardly by the inclined faces 41, andthe locking-arm will thus automatically resume its locked position.Should the spring 32 become broken or lose its resiliency, the lock maybe operated by hand. The principal parts of my improved sash-fastenermay be cast or stamped out of sheet metal. The head 12 is of sufficientwidth to strike the top rail of the upper sash when the lower sash ismoved to the top of the window-frame to prevent the accidental unlockingof the fastener.

l claiml. ln a sash-fastener, a base-plate, a springactuated locking-armmounted for rotation on the base-plate, a locking-plate secured to theopposite sash, a hook formed integral with said locking-plate, the underside of which hook is inclined, a latch-plate located beneath andmovable withthe locking-arm and adapted to engage with the baseplate atdifferent po'nts to lock said arm against rotation in one direction bythe application of any vertical or lateral pressure applied to thelocking-arm substantially as specified.

2. ln a sash-fastener, a base-plate secured to one sash, a locking-platesecured to the opposite sash, a lockin -arm mounted for rotation u onthe base-plate and adapted to engage t e locking-plate, and meanscarried by the locking-arm for locking it at different points on thebase-plate against movement in one direction; substantially asspecified.

3. In a sash-fastener, a base-plate secured to one sash, a locking-platesecured to the opposite sash, a spring-actuated locking-arm mounted forrotation upon the base-plate and adapted to engage the locking-plate,and a latch-plate arranged beneath and movable with the locking-arm andarranged'to lock the locking-arm against rotary motion in one direction;substantially as specified.

4. ln a sash-fastener, a base-plate secured to one sash, a locking-platesecured to the opposite sash, a spring-actuated locking-arm arranged forrotation upon the base-plate and adapted to engage the locking-plate,means whereby the locking arm is held locked against rotation in onedirection at different points, and means formed in the base-platewhereby the locking-arm is held in an unlocked position thereon and inposition to be automatically released to engage the lockingplate whenthe sashes are closed g substantially as specified. n

5. In a sash-fastener, a base-plate secured to one sash, a locking-platesecured to the oposite sash, a post fixed to the baselate, a ocking-armpivotally arranged on the post and adapted to engage the locking-plate,a spring mounted upon the post and adapted to engage the locking-arm,and a latch-plate pivotally mounted upon the post and arranged to holdthe locking-arm against rotation in one direction at different points;substantially as specified. y

6. In a sash-fastener of the class described, a base-plate, aspring-actuated locking-arm arranged for rotation thereon, a series ofnotches formed in said base-plate, means carv ried by the locking-armfor engaging in said notches to hold the locking-arm at different pointsagainst v rotation in one direction, a notch formed in one side of thebase-plate in which the forward end of the locking-arm engages by beingslightly depressed when in an unlocked position, substantially as specified. y

7. In a sash-fastener of the class described,

Aa base-plate adapted to be sec'ured to the lower sash, aspring-actuated locking-arm pivotally arranged for rotation thereon,which arm is arranged to be slightly tilted upon its pivot-point, anotch formed in the base-plate in which the forward end of thelocking-arm is engaged to hold said arm in an unlocked position and inosition to be automatically released, a loc iin -plate adapted to besecured to the upper sas said plate being provided with an arm with aninclined top surface for automatically releasing said I locking-arm whenthe sash are closed; substantially as specified.

ln testimony whereof l. have signed my name to this specification inpresence of two l 4subscribing witnesses.

JOHN L. GRETHER.

Witnesses:

EDWARD ELONGAN, M. l?. SMITH.

